By CompuBox
Christopher Diaz (last 5 fights), made his punches count, throwing 8 fewer than wgt. class avg. but landing 17 per round and 34.4%. Diaz also landed 39.5% of his power punches. He also features an excellent body attack, as 36.7% of his landed punches are body shots - CompuBox avg.: 24.2%. Masayuki Ito (last 3 fights) landed 40.1% of his power shots and he too features an excellent body attack, as 33.5% of his landed punches are body shots.
Christopher "Pitufo" Diaz (23-0, 15 KOs) will have the crowd on his side Saturday evening at the Kissimmee Civic Center when he takes on Japan's Masayuki Ito (23-1-1) for the vacant WBO junior lightweight title. (photos by Mikey Williams)
Kissimmee is home to a large Puerto Rican population, and Diaz is seeking to become the fifth current male world champion from the "Island of Enchantment."
Ito, who has fought solely in Japan as a professional, will look to become the ninth 130-pound world champion in the rich fighting history of his homeland.
Diaz-Ito and the 10-round welterweight showdown between Artemio Reyes and Gabriel Bracero will stream live and exclusively in the United States at 9:30 p.m. ET on ESPN+, with undercard action set for 6:30 p.m. ET on ESPN+. Also in action will be middleweight contender Esquiva Falcao (20-0, 14 KOs), who will face Jonathan Tavira (16-5, 12 KOs) in a 10-rounder.
Christopher Diaz
"I never expected to be at this point in my career. I had my pro debut in 2013, and I didn't even know that I was going to get to 10-0, 20-0. And I never expected to be fighting for a world title. But my hard work every day, my anger, my passion for this sport, made me be here for this opportunity. I think nobody is going to take that out of me, and I feel so good. It's a moment. It's one more fight. I know Ito is a great fighter. I've been working for 15 years to now for this opportunity.{My fans} know that I always make a war. I know Masayuki Ito is going to come to give me a war. That's the kind of fight that I want for the fans."
